Pryce daughters protest over Telegraph pictures to PCC chairman
The daughters of Vicky Pryce have written to Lord Hunt, chairman of the Press Complaints Commission, in protest at the Daily Telegraph's publication of pictures of their mother in prison.Their letter has been copied to several editors and journalists - including some at the Telegraph - plus a number of MPs, such as John Whittingdale, chairman of the culture and media select committee, and Harriet Harman, the shadow culture secretary.Here is the full letter, signed by Georgia and Alexandra Pryce: We are writing to you as the daughters of Vicky Pryce to protest after the Daily Telegraph today published a photograph of our mother in prison.We are dismayed that the Daily Telegraph has wilfully violated an express request by the PCC yesterday not to publish the picture. We are distressed that press photographers have been prowling around her open prison. There are no walls or fences. Are all at the prison to be punished by hiding from photographers until the Daily Telegraph tires of stalki |
Harriet Harman urges overhaul of media ownership rules
Labour deputy leader says media barons such as Rupert Murdoch have developed a sense of invincibilityLabour's deputy leader, Harriet Harman, has called on the government to lay down plans for a tough communications bill in the Queen's speech on Wednesday, including rules to curb Rupert Murdoch's dominance in newspapers and pay TV and a framework to tackle the rising power of technology giants such as Facebook and Google.Harman, who also holds the posts of shadow deputy prime minister and shadow culture secretary, has tabled a seven-point plan highlighting areas Labour believes should be overhauled, including major changes to media ownership rules in the light of the fallout from the phone-hacking scandal."We have a situation where [Murdoch] owns national newspapers accounting for 34% of total sales – it is too much," said Harman. "It is important for democracy, and also the issue of fairness for new entrants."Murdoch's News International owns the Sun, Times, Sunday Times and Sun on S |
George Osborne insists linking Mick Philpott to welfare reform was right
Chancellor turns his fire on pressure groups, saying he hasn't acted divisively and 'majority of the country' share his viewsGeorge Osborne has launched a strong defence of his decision to link the Mick Philpott case to controversial government welfare reforms as he criticised pressure groups for "a lazy habit of opposition".As the Labour party responded to apparent public unease at high welfare bills by expressing sympathy for working people who feel "exasperation" at benefits paid to large families, the chancellor insisted that he had not acted in a divisive manner."I don't set out to be divisive – actually far from it," Osborne said on Pienaar's Politics on BBC Radio Five Live. "I think a lot of the things that I've been saying … are in tune with what the great majority of the country think and experience in their everyday lives."Osborne was accused by Labour last week of demeaning the office of chancellor when he responded to the conviction for manslaughter of Philpott, who kil |
Working parents exasperated over large families on benefits, says Harman
Deputy Labour leader's comments come in wake of Philpott case as party plans radical shift over welfare state payoutsWorking families often feel "exasperation" when they see other parents bringing up large families on benefits, the deputy leader of the Labour party, Harriet Harman, has said.In a toughening of Labour rhetoric as the party draws up plans to return to the contributary principles of Beveridge, Harman said she understood people's resentment over high benefits while the economy stagnates.Harman's remarks came as William Hague backed George Osborne's "absolutely correct" comment that the conviction of Mick Philpott had highlighted the need for a debate about Britain's welfare system. Philpott, who lived on benefits, was jailed last week for killing six of his children in a house fire in Derby.Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Harman said: "It is absolutely understandable – when people limit their families to one or two children and feel they'd like to have a third but |
